Hello, (sorry this is so long)

I've just been asked to make 300 cupcakes for (collective) monthly birthdays at my husband's office... this will be a monthly thing.
300 cupcakes at the end of each month... I should be happy

My problem, you ask? (I know, get to the point!)
I've NEVER done an order close to this magnitude (I'm cursing my tiny kitchen). I called the bakery they usually use (a reputable place, nice people) and I was surprised by how little they charge. They were charging $187.00 for 300 cupcakes.

If the order were to be done as a HUGE sheet cake, the price was only $250.00. That averaged about $0.87 per serving... I can't compete with that price. I use mostly organic ingredients... it adds up fast.

What would you all charge for 300 cupcakes? My husband said they would pay more if needed, I just want to be fair to both myself and them. ALSO: am I insane for taking this order??? My kitchen is beyond TINY~

~Thanks for reading my usually long winded posts.

I don't know-if $600 too much? You are talking many, many, many hours here.

What type of decoration is required? Also, how will you deliver and in what type of container(s). I assume buttercream and not fondant/gumpaste - right?

I'd charge 1$/cupcake if they're basic cupcake with basic swirl of icing and buy yourself a baker's rack at Sam's (if you're a home baker) and try to convince yourself that it looks great in the middle of your living room . JK....but that's what I did when I had to make 400 cupcakes for a wedding . I know that my price suggestion is low, but where I live that would be the going rate.

I think that $187 is ridiculas and you wont be able to compete with that. If i were you I would find a different recipe that didnt use organic products and maybe a cake mix extender recipe would help with the cost. Just keep trying to come up with a cheaper produc that will be up to your standards. I would charge about $300 because that would be $1 per cupcake if price is an issue and you really just want the experiance. If they can pay more go for $400. I doubt they will pay you $420 more than the bakery. The economy is too bad. You could also make the cupcakes during the week and toss them right in the freezer. I think you can make batches of butter cream a week in advance. You could freeze cuppies brush with simple syrup after they thaw and top with buttercream. Just an idea. Just trying to help

I'd decline.. it's not going to be worth the headache. You have to think where you will store them while they are at your house.. how will you transport them.. If you think about it.. one dozen will fit in holders in a 10X14 box.. that 25 boxes. Will your car hold that? You will be baking for days.. then decorating?

If you are using organic ingredients your cost will be way more than $187 for just the ingredients.. nevermind the containers and all that. I charge $3.50 for a plain unfilled cupcake. That's over $1000 right there, and I don't use all organic ingredients.

A bakery is using comercial mixes, has a nice big mixer and can mix and bake them dozens at a time. Your home mixer and oven will handle what.. 2 dozen at a time.

I'd decline.. say thank you so much for thinking of you and if they ever want a special cake for a special occasion then you will be more than willing to go that route.

300 cupcakes with a simple swirl from me would cost $1200. And people pay it. what you should charge... I don't know. Work up your cost and time and decide what it's worth.

Just so you know, I do bake from home, I have done cupcake orders as large as 500. I can rotate 48 cupcakes in 4 - 1 dozen pans into my oven at a time, they come out, cool for 3 minutes, then move on to cooling racks, the next batter is already waiting, put it in, back into the oven. Takes 1 hour to bake 96 cupcakes. Make 2 batches of buttercream before you start the baking, that way once the cupcakes are cool, you ice them, and then right into a sheet box. Keep the process rolling. It's a solid 6 hours to bake and ice and box 300 cupcakes for me.

You want to hear (well, read) something funny???

I only have a "6 cupcake" tin !!!! Can you imagine how many YEARS that would take???

I would have bought a larger one, but that made me laugh right out loud, which is just what I needed.

I guess I'm going to decline, because of time, space, cost ~ I hope there are more orders though... just not so large.

Thanks everyone.

I've had to do 500 cupcakes before...basically they had a choice of chocolate or vanilla. Then I PURCHASED the cupcakes from the store in bulk for about $150, undecorated, took them home...added some simple syrup for extra flavor and moisture and then put my own icing and decorated them. It worked, they loved them...and I didn't have a HUGE headache.

Could you share some of your recipes? I tried a vegan cake recipe last night and it wasn't that great. I'd really like to find some yummy ones.

IF you took on this order, I'd recommend buying nut cups. They are stable enough to hold their own shape and not need a cupcake pan. I can fit a lot on a sheet pan. This is how I do my cupcakes for my daughter's school and I can bake all 60 in one batch. (Two sheet pans in my oven and I alternate them halfway.) I could fit more, but I like giving them a little space in between each cup. Both Michaels & my cake store sell them for $1.50 for 25 or so, but I'm sure you could get them cheaper at a restaurant food supply. (We have Smart N Final.)

If your this hesitant about the order than I would decline it. iI find that I bake better when it's when I want to and looking forward to it rather than feeling like I have to.

Buying in bulk is an option. You could look that route if you want the order. I dont think it matters why HD's work is looking for another baker. This would be great business for you if you decide to order! 300 cc=300 NEW customers!!!!

Just wanted to chime in to say I agree with cakesdevine. I have not had a single tasty vegan cake, other than carrot. We had a vegan bakery here, and being how I am, I went and tried it, and maybe it was a whole bakery of sub par stuff, or I don't have the acquired taste... but ick.

Not the point though, if you don't want to/can't take the order, don't do it. Maybe just put out the price you want, like $3.00 per cupcake, and if they are like, no that's way too much, then move on. But if they accept, it could be a wonderful steady income...

Hey Kristi!!! i would take the order.. I know, I'm like the only one saying this. Think about all those potential customers out there though!!! Here's what I would do... My oven (it's so old, it's harvest gold yellow, yea, from the 70's) so I would imagine newer ovens can do this as well. I have 4 cupcakes pans that hold 12 cupcakes each, I put two pans on each rack and bake all four at once. So you can bake 48 cupcakes at a time...I have plastic cupcake containers like the grocery store has, they have 6 holders but you can get them bigger (I got mine from Brenmar), so when they're done baking, let them cool a few mins, then put them directly into the cupcake container to cool completely, I don't close the lid. Once they're cool, put the big star tip on a big piping bag, pipe your swirls, close the lid, literally takes less than a second to pipe it. I can stack my containers 4 high I think. so just keep working in batches, as you finish a set of cupcakes, close up the containers and stack them up til you're done. I bet you could do this in a day... now, the trouble would be the price. you have to figure out how much it's going to cost you to make all these cupcakes. For a simple swirl I would only charge $1 but I don't bake vegan, so once you figure out your costs, I would give them the price and just explain to them that it might be higher than you're used to paying but they're getting a far superior product. Maybe even bake a few cupcakes and send them into the "decision maker" at your hubby's office so they can see the caliber of product they'd be getting to justify the cost.

OK-it is obvious that I didn't read the whole thread before posting earlier. I would definately do it, but the first thing I'd do is buy more cupcake pans. I can only bake 2 doz at a time in my oven. You may have to call other vegan bakers in your area (if there are any) and see what the going rate is.

I would atleast throw out a price that would make it worth while. Atleast 1.25 or more per cupcake.

There have been many opinions on oranic vs. non-organic, vegan vs. responsible "mainstream" baking (cage-free chickens and such)... I'd want to know if my "scratch" cake contained a Vegetable shortening icing and not a butter icing. From what I've read, butter is the more natural product, even with cholesterol (which in itself is not such a bad thing).

If these were icing-less cupcakes, I'd say maybe less calories, or if they were smaller...maybe. But I am not sure where the whole "vegan cupcakes are healthier" has been proven, especially since most vegan buttercream is made with a product that up until a few years ago, made butter look like raw carrots. Completely hydrogenizing anything doesn't make it healthier.

And I would LOVE to have recipes that are healthier, which is incidentally, why I switched to IMBC instead of a Veg-shortening icing.

Anyway, I'd still throw out a deal that reflects yours costs and a profit for you, and I wouldn't be shy in making sure they know you are vegan. I don't think there's anything wrong with your choice, but claiming it is healthier or less animal-friendly may not be the absolute truth IN ALL CASES.

CAKE ON!!!

There isn't enough money in the world to pay me to make 300 cupcakes 6 at a time.